Recently, the record for the longest train on a wedding dress ever was broken by a woman in China. Her train was more than a mile long, had 9,999 red silk roses, took more than 200 people and three hours to unfurl, and cost around $7,000 for that part alone.
While that’s very extreme, the reality is that brides can pretty much do or have anything they want on their wedding dress. The main word in that sentence is “can”; whether they should or not is a different story.
Every year, the top wedding gown designers will have a show where they’ll exhibit their dress designs for the coming year. Not all of the wedding dresses are soothing to the eye, and that’s done on purpose. Designers know that everyone doesn’t want to have the same traditional look, but they also know that those people who want something different are willing to pay big money for them, if only for the shock value.
When people go to a wedding gown show, the idea isn’t to look at the dresses specifically for purchase. The purpose is to show general styles, and give everyone an idea of the type of work a designer can do. It’s hard for most people to go to a wedding show looking for a specific dress and be able to determine what they would look like in that same dress. The models can either make a dress look outstanding or make it look like it’s just hanging there. Most of the time, the body shape of the model doesn’t match the body shape of the viewer.
So, instead of hoping to have the latest Vera Wang or Reem Acra wedding gown, which you might not be able to afford, what brides should be looking for are ideas of what they’d like their wedding dresses to have, according to their body shape. For instance, a tight bodice might look great on the model, but does your body type fit wearing a tight bodice? A plunging neckline might make for a sexy dress, but can you wear that dress with confidence if it’s something totally out of character for you?
The same goes for all the additions on a dress. Are you someone comfortable with a lot of embroidery on a dress, or do you usually wear more simple patterns? Are puffy sleeves your style, or do you like your shoulders being unencumbered by all the extra fabric? Do you want a train that’s going to take 200 people and hours to unfurl, or would you like to stride in, have your wedding, and be able to walk out so you can get to the party?
It’s up to you, the bride, to make these decisions for yourself. Just take your time, figure out what will make you feel the most special that you can afford, and don’t try to compete with what someone else has done. You will be special no matter what you do.
Photo Credit: www.wedding2046.com
